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Madagascar: Presidential election to be held on Friday
(AFP) – Eight million voters go to the polls Friday in a presidential election that is hoped will return Madagascar to democratic rule, attract much needed funding and pull the island-nation out of a debilitating economic rut occasioned by a coup in 2009.
Some 21,000 polling stations will open for the crucial election which has attracted some 800 international observers and 5,000 local ones.
Chinese observers were the latest to arrive, with Madagascar officials praising the Asian country for continuing to maintain relations following international sanctions imposed on the country as a result of the coup.
The run-up to the presidential election has been marked with low-level tensions.
Some 33 candidates will take part in the presidential race, which saw President Andry Rajoelina and rival (former president) Marc Ravalomana barred. If none of them obtains 50 percent of the vote, the two leading candidates will go into a second round on December 20.
Meanwhile, top officials contesting the elections are being removed from their functions, referring to information sent to newsrooms Wednesday night.
The country’s Justice minister Christine Razanamahasoa, Public Health minister Johanita Ndahimananjara, and Tourism minister Jean-Max Raktomamonjy are among those affected.
